Victor Hugo

“ DELL' AQUILA.
⁠Not a word to her! She 's false.
Can you trust me? I'll lead you to the Countess.
FIORDELISA (aside) .
Were this a stratagem!
DELL' AQUILA.
⁠I see you doubt me;
I know you have good cause to doubt all men.
Oh, could I bare my heart, and show you there
Your image set amongst its holiest thoughts,
Beside my mother's well-remembered face.
Could truth speak with the tongue, look from the eyes,
You would not doubt me! What can oaths avail?
He who could cheat you, would not fear to cheat
God and his saints! Lady, it is the truth
That I have spoken! ”

“ BERTUCCIO.
⁠You have Bertuccio.
FRANCESCA.
Men call you faithless, bitter, loving wrong
For wrong's sake, Duke Manfredi's worst counsellor,
Still prompting him to evil.
BERTUCCIO.
⁠How folks flatter!
FRANCESCA.
How, then, am I to trust you?
BERTUCCIO.
⁠Monna Cecca,
You know the wild beasts that your husband keeps
Down in the castle fosse? There's a she-leopard
I lie and gaze at by the hour together;
So sleek, so graceful, and so dangerous!
I long to see her let loose on a man.
Trust me to draw the bolt, and loose my leopard. ”

“ FIORDELISA.
⁠Who?
MANFREDI.
⁠Manfredi's self.
FIORDELISA (wringing her hands) .
Woe's me!
MANFREDI.
⁠What? Is the news so terrible?
FIORDELISA.
I've heard Brigitta, and my father, too,
Speak of the Duke Manfredi.
MANFREDI (aside) .
⁠Here 's a chance
To hear a genuine judgment of myself!
[To her.] They said—
FIORDELISA.
⁠That he was cruel, bold, unsated
In thirst for evil pleasures,—it was odds
Whether more feared or hated in Faenza.
MANFREDI (aside) .
Trust the crowd's garlic cheers and greasy caps!
The knaves shall know me worse ere they have done. ”

“ All men are lawless,—'t is because I fear
To lose thee, as I lost thy mother.
FIORDELISA.
⁠Father,
I'll pray for her.
BERTUCCIO.
⁠Do, and for me; good-night!
FIORDELISA.
Oh, not so soon, with all these sad dark thoughts,
These bitter memories. You need my love;
I'll touch my lute for you, and sing to it.
Music, you know, chases all evil angels.
BERTUCCIO.
I must go: 't is grave business calls me hence.
[Aside.] 'T is time that I was at my post. My own,
Sleep in thine innocence. Good! good-night!
FIORDELISA.
But let me see you to the outer door. ”

“ FIORDELISA (faintly) .
Father!
TORELLI.
She never drank! Thou hast her pure as when
She kissed thy lips last night!
BERTUCCIO.
⁠Oh, bless you, bless you!
She lives—lives—lives! Leave us to pray together.
TORELLI (to Francesca) .
Madame, you are our prisoner: the Duke
Lies foully murdered.
FRANCESCA.
⁠Ha! what call you "foully"?
Who but myself can estimate my wrongs?
For those who stand, like him, past reach of justice,
Vengeance takes Justice's sharp sword.
BERTUCCIO.
⁠No, no!
Vengeance is hellish! Justice is from heaven! ”

“ TORELLI.
⁠Scurrile knave!
But I'll be even with thee!
BERTUCCIO.
⁠That were pity.
A hump would be a sore disfigurement
Upon a back that you're so fond of showing!
ASCOLTI.
This rogue needs gagging.
BERTUCCIO (to Ascolti) .
⁠What, for speaking truth?
I cry you mercy! I forgot how ugly
It must sound to a Florentine Ambassador—
MANFREDI.
Well thrust, Bertuccio!
ORDELAFFI (angrily) .
⁠My lord! my lord!
The slave is paid to find us wit—
BERTUCCIO (interrupting) .
⁠Hold there!
No man is bound to impossibilities,—
'T is a known maxim of the Roman law ”

“ FIORDELISA.
⁠Nay but, good Brigitta,
This gentleman is none.
BRIGITTA.
⁠How do you know?
FIORDELISA.
He never speaks to me, scarce looks, or if
He do, it is but to withdraw his gaze
As hastily as I do mine. I've seen him
Blush when our eyes met; not like yon rude man
Who pressed upon me with such words and looks
As made me red and hot; you know the time
When that kind lady, Countess Malatesta,
Scarce saved me from his boldness.
BRIGITTA.
⁠Tilly-vally.
There are more ways of bird-catching than one;
He's the best fowler who least scares his quarry. ”

“ Seizing him by one arm, and motioning Dell' Aquila to take the other.
TORELLI.
The Duke for once has shut his doors against
Both Poetry and Folly. He is cloistered
For grave affairs.
BERTUCCIO.
⁠Tush! tell me not, sweet gossip.
Why, man, I know that there 's a petticoat—
And more, I know the wearer.
TORELLI.
⁠Thou!
BERTUCCIO.
⁠You've lost
The rarest sport. Ascolti and Ordelaffi
Have had their will of me. For once I'll own
You've turned the tables fairly on the fool!
That our Ginevra should be Fiordelisa,
And poor Bertuccio not know! Ha, ha! ”

“ TORELLI.
Nay, an' thou tak'st it so—
BERTUCCIO.
⁠How should I take it?
Besides the pleasantness of it, there's the honour.
Think! my poor daughter in the Duke's high favour!
Why, there are counts by scores had pawned their 'scutcheons
To come into such grace. I warrant now,
You thought I'd swear, and storm, and rend you all,
So shut me out. But, lo you! I am merry;
And so shall she be, if you'll let me in.
But let me in—I'll school the silly wench—
Teach her what honour she has come to; thank
The gracious duke, and play the merriest antics. ”

“ Enter Manfredi, Ascolti, and Ordelaffi, masked and cloaked.
MANFREDI.
⁠Hist, Bertuccio!
BERTUCCIO.
Here, gossip Galeotto,—you are punctual;
Ascolti too; grave Signor Florentine,
We'll show you how the gallants of Faenza
Treat greybeards who aspire to handsome wives.
Remember your beard 's grizzled—and beware—
ASCOLTI.
I will stand warned. You have the ladders here?
BERTUCCIO.
The lackeys wait in charge of them hard by.
But where 's Torelli? we shall want his help.
ORDELAFFI.
Pshaw! our three swords are plenty. ”

“ That since has shaped my life,—to have revenge!
Revenge upon her wronger and his order;
Revenge in kind; to quit him,—wife for wife!
FIORDELISA.
Father, 't is not for me to question with you;
But think! revenge belongeth not to man
It is God's attribute, usurp it not!
BERTUCCIO.
Preach abstinence to him that dies of hunger,
Tell the poor wretch who perishes of thirst,
There's danger in the cup his fingers clutch;
But bid me not forswear revenge. No word! ”

“ Her shadow. Shadows may suit poets; I
Want substance.
TORELLI.
⁠She's meat for Bertuccio's master,
Not for Bertuccio. When shall it be?
MANFREDI.
⁠To-morrow
I 'm a free man! Meet me at midnight, here.
DELL' AQUILA.
You would not harm her? Only see her face;
You will not have the heart to do her wrong.
MANFREDI.
What call you "wrong"?—to save so choice a creature
From such a guardian as Bertuccio?
He would have prompted me to play the robber
Of Malatesta's pearl. Let him guard his own!
ORDELAFFI.
If he resists, we'll knock him over the sconce ”

“ These are your State affairs, my gracious duke!
BERTUCCIO.
If you would have more proof, I'll bring you where
You shall hear his humble tools in last night's business
Discuss the deed,—all noble gentlemen,
Who'd pluck my hood about my ears if I
Durst hint a doubt of their veracity.
FRANCESCA.
Do so; and if they bear thy story out,
I know my part.
BERTUCCIO.
⁠What! tears?
FRANCESCA.
⁠Tears? Death to both!
BERTUCCIO.
Take care! His guards are faithful. Can you trust
A hand to do the deed?
FRANCESCA.
⁠I trust my own.
BERTUCCIO.
Women turn pale at blood. ”

“ Torelli, Ascolti, and Ordelaffi support The Duke. Bertuccio and Dell' Aquila rush up to Fiordelisa.
BERTUCCIO.
Too late! too late!
TORELLI.
⁠He 's dead!
FRANCESCA.
⁠Before all men,
I'll answer this!
BERTUCCIO.
⁠Before Heaven's judgment seat,
How shall I answer this? [Pointing to Fiordelisa.
[Dell' Aquila has brought Fiordelisa forward. Bertuccio takes her in his arms. ⁠Dead—dead—my bird!
My lily flower! Gone to thy last account,
All sinless as thou wert. My fool's revenge
Ends but in this! Cold! cold!
[Putting his hand on her heart.] Ha! Yes! a beat! ”

“ Exit Torelli, C. Bertuccio, exhausted by his emotions, falls into a chair and writhes convulsively.
DELL' AQUILA.
Lives hang on minutes here. Said you the Duchess
Had mixed the poison, or but meant to mix it?
BERTUCCIO.
There it is, man,—I know not which. E'en now
Death may be busy at her lips. Once in,
In my mad antics I might spurn the board,
And spill the flagons as I did e'en now;
But here I'm helpless. Oh, Beelzebub!
Inspire them with desire to see a father
Make laughter of the undoing of his child!
Ha, some one comes! They'll let me in! ”

“ TORELLI.
⁠Which is the balcony?
BERTUCCIO (pointing) .
That! I have noted in this summer weather
The window 's left unbarred.
ASCOLTI.
⁠Ha! there 's a light!
If she were stirring!
BERTUCCIO.
⁠What an' if she were?
A sudden spring,—a cloak flung o'er her head;
If she have time to scream, you are but bunglers.
MANFREDI.
My cloak will serve. ”

“ Exit Bertuccio.
TORELLI.
Toad!
ASCOLTI.
⁠Foul-mouthed scoffer!
ORDELAFFI.
⁠Warped in wit and limb!
ASCOLTI.
My lord, you give your monkey too much rope.
He'll soon forget all tricks in the scurvy one
Of making his grinders meet in our soft parts.
MANFREDI.
Nay, give the devil his due; if he hits hard,
He hits impartially. I take my share
Of buffets with the rest. Best cure the smart
By laughing at your neighbour that smarts worse;
But about this business, where your arms may help me.
ASCOLTI.
Is it an enemy to be silenced? ”

“ ASCOLTI.
⁠Let's in, at once, my lords.
BERTUCCIO.
I'll marshal you. Who said that cap and bells
Should be shut out?
ASCOLTI.
⁠Stand back, Sir Fool; 't were best
You may repent your pressing on too far.
BERTUCCIO.
I fain would see the lady; 't is not often
That one can carry a beauty off at night,
And make her laugh i' the morning. ”

“ Exit by secret door, L. 2 E.
SCENE II.
A street near the Church of San Stefano; stage dark.
Enter Bertuccio, L., cloaked and masked.
BERTUCCIO.
The hour has struck,—they will be here anon,—
Trust them to keep tryst for a villainous deed.
I had need to whet the memory of my wrong,
Or my girl's angel face and innocent tongue
Had shaken even my steadfastness of purpose!
And Malatesta's wife has done her kindness,—
I would that she had not! But what's such slight service
To my huge wrong? Let me but think of that!
I grow too human near my child. ”

“ FIORDELISA.
⁠Alas! she died.
BERTUCCIO.
Died! There are deaths 't is comfort to look back on;
Hers was not such a death. A devil came
Across our quiet life, and marked her beauty,
And lusted for her ”

“ Suspicion, and put Guido on his guard.
BERTUCCIO.
A wise precaution, although it was yours.
I wronged you, gentlemen; I thought you shrunk
Even from sin, when there was danger in 't.
It seems there are deeds black enough to make
Even Torelli brave, Ascolti prompt,
And Ordelaffi witty. But the place?
MANFREDI.
Beside San Stefano.
BERTUCCIO.
⁠The hour of meeting?
MANFREDI.
Half an hour after vespers. There await us.
And now good rest, my lords; the night wanes fast
My duchess will be weary.
ALL (going) .
⁠Sir, good-night!
BERTUCCIO.
Sleep well, Torelli. ”

“ His Highness wants no fool to-day!
BERTUCCIO.
⁠That 's true,—
With you two for his company. But tell me,
How will the lady relish, o'er her wine,
The cut-throat faces that she saw last night?
Methinks 't will mar her appetite.
ASCOLTI.
⁠Be sure
She will not look so scared at us
As thou would'st at the sight of her.
BERTUCCIO.
⁠Who—I?
Nay, I but held the ladder; we poor knaves
Must take the leavings of your rogueries,
As of your feasts ”

“ There is a certain vile Bertuccio,
A twisted, withered, hunch-backed court buffoon,—
A thing to make mirth, and to be made mirth of;
A something betwixt ape and man,—that claims
To run in couples with your ladyship.
You hunt Manfredi; I hunt Malatesta. ”

“ Will none of thy ape's tricks.
[He retires, closing the door. Bertuccio wrings his hands and screams.
DELL' AQUILA (rushing forward) .
⁠What ho! Torelli!
And you within, you, my lord duke, 'fore all!
I do proclaim you cowards, ruffians, beasts.
Come out, if you be men, and drive my challenge
Back in my throat, if you've one heart among you!
BERTUCCIO.
You speak to men; they 're fiends.
DELL' AQUILA.
⁠No hope! no hope!
Yes! here's the Duchess; she 's a woman still—
[Enter Francesca and Ginevra, L.
BERTUCCIO.
Madame, and you, too [To Ginevra.] ”

“ The mew where he keeps close his tassel-gentle.
ASCOLTI (aside to Manfredi) .
Ne'er trust a poet. What if he betrayed us?
MANFREDI.
He 's truth itself; and where he gives his faith,
'T is better than a bond of your Lorenzo's.
ASCOLTI.
Swear him to secrecy.
MANFREDI (to Dell' Aquila) .
⁠Your hand upon it:
You'll not spoil our sport by breaking to Bertuccio
What we intend? ”

“ Bertuccio gets between him and the door.
TORELLI.
Good-day, Sir Poet; stand aside, Sir Fool.
BERTUCCIO.
You are going in?
TORELLI.
⁠Ay!
BERTUCCIO.
⁠There's a shrewd hiatus
Needs filling at the table. You have War
And Love, but, lacking Poetry and Folly,
War is but butchery, and Love goes lame. ”

“ So you may feed all the seven sins at once?
MANFREDI.
Out, barren hound! thy wits are growing dull.
BERTUCCIO.
A man can't always be finding out new sins,—
Think they're as hard to hit on as new pleasures. ”